Germination advice.

So I'm in the middle of germination on 2 seeds. Both are inside a Rapid footer in RO water, the hole of 're is plugged. I peaked today, about 60 hours in, and I see both seeds have terminated. One seed already has like a 2 inch tap root that is curled in a gal in the rr, should I mess with them to make sure it's okay? Or wait for it to pop.

I've never used rapid rooters before. I prefer a paper towel moistened with tap water. But still you should probably not mess with them. They'll figure it out. The young tap root is very fragile, and will break easily. The only thing you can really do is keep it damp but not soggy, and have patience. To me, the 2 times of my plants life the tries my patience the most is the start of the seed and the start of flowering. Seems like every day that passes feels like a week.. The seed knows which way is up and which is down.

never mess with new seedlings, those roots are so brittle you can sneeze them off.

dtl420 said:

I've never used rapid rooters before. I prefer a paper towel moistened with tap water. But still you should probably not mess with them. They'll figure it out. The young tap root is very fragile, and will break easily. The only thing you can really do is keep it damp but not soggy, and have patience. To me, the 2 times of my plants life the tries my patience the most is the start of the seed and the start of flowering. Seems like every day that passes feels like a week.. The seed knows which way is up and which is down.

Click to expand...

its why im having the problem, i normally Germ in paper towel, THEN place in RR, but ive been doing research on how the paper towerl is "bad" for your seedling. So im going the "nature" way, and letting the seed fend for itself in the RR. seems to be going well. ill probably throw a cfl over them.

Patience.

IMO, the only thing wrong with the paper towel method is you need to move the seedling. As all the wise folks above have said, it's a bit dangerous and a lot can go wrong. That said, it was my preferred method prior to my getting an aerogarden. I just put the seed in the moss and forget about it until it's a few inches tall. Then I transplant it moss and all. Best $50 I ever spent.

Ablaze said:

Patience.

IMO, the only thing wrong with the paper towel method is you need to move the seedling. As all the wise folks above have said, it's a bit dangerous and a lot can go wrong. That said, it was my preferred method prior to my getting an aerogarden. I just put the seed in the moss and forget about it until it's a few inches tall. Then I transplant it moss and all. Best $50 I ever spent.

Click to expand...

ill have to try this ablaze.. it seems very interesting, where would i start to learn about this moss trick?

Nafydad420 said:

its why im having the problem, i normally Germ in paper towel, THEN place in RR, but ive been doing research on how the paper towerl is "bad" for your seedling. So im going the "nature" way, and letting the seed fend for itself in the RR. seems to be going well. ill probably throw a cfl over them.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure how the paper towel method is going to be bad for the seed.. The only time I've had an issue with that method is when I got the paper towel too wet and it caused the seed to dampen off. I'd be careful not to buy into the hippie mumbo jumbo, it's just going to have you spending money on things you don't need. I soak the seed in a cup of water for 24hrs then put it in a damp towel in a Tupperware with the lid just barely cracked to let a little air in. I check the towel every day to make sure it's not drying out. As soon as I see the root popping out of the seed shell I plant in a peat pod. I've used this method to germinate seeds for about 10 years. My second grow I used this method to successfully germinate two Goo seeds that were over 5 years old.

I just start my seeds in a cup of moistened soil and let them grow as mother nature intended.

i personally dont see how the paper towel is bad either... it seems i have to take most info with a grain of salt, everyone has their own opinion on things lol.

Nafydad420 said:

ill have to try this ablaze.. it seems very interesting, where would i start to learn about this moss trick?

Click to expand...

www.aerogarden dot com

There are four micronutrients a seedling needs upon germination. I'm not going to make it easier for you though.
If you ever have a child I suggest leaving it a paper towel and feeding it only water the first few days, to see how productive this is.

Something like this. I don't have any of the seedlings we're talking about.

This is exactly why i SWITCHED from RR

That sponge is a pain in my ass

Dont know why it took me 14 years to finally give rockwool a shot .

IM FUCKING SOLD on rockwool for seedlings.

I germ like nirvana seeds suggest

No popping, no DOME no heat all good

Though i do give a 30 min soak

I hate losing beans to something dumb like dampening off. Or the RR rips its head off lol

Im not saying RR suck its just ive grown to hate them

And this firts experience with rockwool has made me a user!

I got anxious and pulled the little plug off one of the seeds that was the last to pop 100% 6 for 6

But i pulled the little rockwool plug cause im retarded and i didnt want it to damp off .
Little did i know i accidentally let the little tap root air pruned itself at about 1/2

Normally i thought it would be a goner but i just tucked it into that soft green fuzz and hoped
Now shes doing fine still 6 for 6.

I dont know if i could have done the same with that spongy texture of RR.

I think you should just let them do what they are going to do
I know ive killed more seeds in "surgery" trying to "help" them .

But i understand your pain lol

Sorry if it didnt help any

ANC said:

There are four micronutrients a seedling needs upon germination. I'm not going to make it easier for you though.
If you ever have a child I suggest leaving it a paper towel and feeding it only water the first few days, to see how productive this is.

Click to expand...

I can't find anything on google for the nutrient requirements for germination. Could you post a link? To my knowledge the only requirements are warmth and water.

My problem with paper towels is the trans plant

And i always seem too have it too wet and end up bloating a seed.

And im sure it doesn't like all the fine hairs being ripped off (inevitable )

Also dont really know whats in paper towels

Cold$moke said:

This is exactly why i SWITCHED from RR

That sponge is a pain in my ass

Dont know why it took me 14 years to finally give rockwool a shot .

IM FUCKING SOLD on rockwool for seedlings.

I germ like nirvana seeds suggest

No popping, no DOME no heat all good

Though i do give a 30 min soak

I hate losing beans to something dumb like dampening off. Or the RR rips its head off lol

Im not saying RR suck its just ive grown to hate them

And this firts experience with rockwool has made me a user!

I got anxious and pulled the little plug off one of the seeds that was the last to pop 100% 6 for 6

But i pulled the little rockwool plug cause im retarded and i didnt want it to damp off .
Little did i know i accidentally let the little tap root air pruned itself at about 1/2

Normally i thought it would be a goner but i just tucked it into that soft green fuzz and hoped
Now shes doing fine still 6 for 6.

I dont know if i could have done the same with that spongy texture of RR.

I think you should just let them do what they are going to do
I know ive killed more seeds in "surgery" trying to "help" them .

But i understand your pain lol

Sorry if it didnt help any

Click to expand...

i might give rockwool a try next grow, any advice?

dtl420 said:

I can't find anything on google for the nutrient requirements for germination. Could you post a link? To my knowledge the only requirements are warmth and water.

Click to expand...

This is true for the fact that the seedling has enough nutrients stored in its cotlyden for the first week or 2

But im sure the plant enjoys a nice environment full of the nutrients it wants.

I use 1/4 strength bloom formula with kelp humic acid and b vitamins.

You can use clonex as a medium drench as well
Just dont over do it.

There is a difference between minimum and ideal.
I'll help and give you two, one is actually a base nutrient. P and zink to build those roots and hair cells.

Nafydad420 said:

i might give rockwool a try next grow, any advice?

Click to expand...

Try it ?

what kinda of advice do you need?

Remember im just a noob when it comes to the wool lol

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with all the ways to sprout. What matters is that it reliably works for you. Before my switch to the aerogarden the paper towel method worked very well. Sometimes it would dry out, sometimes I'd forget about them and the roots would penetrate the paper towel.

The reason I went the aerogarden path is it's simplicity. Fill the reservoir with water, put the seed in the grow sponge (Canadian Sphagnum Peat) and turn it on. It takes care of the lights and absolutely everything else.